CALDWELL / WEST CALDWELL, NJ - This Satuday, June 11, organizations in Caldwell and West Caldwell will present a variety of interesting and exciting historic programs at multiple locations which are designed to appeal to all ages and interests. See below for a detailed list of exhibits, lectures, self-guided walking tours, and an overnight Civil War reenactment. Events are listed by scheduled time.

West Caldwell Library - "Genealogy and Local History Resources"Local History and Genealogy Room: 9am to 5pm and during all regular library hours30 Clinton Road, West Caldwell

The library's genalogy collection currently includes over 700 books, as well as manuscripts, microfilmed newspapers, directories, yearbooks, maps, photographs, and family histories

The library also offers access to "Ancestry Library Edition"

Special Exhibit: West Essex Woman’s Club 's “West Essex Women of Achievement”

Silhouette portrait artist, Ruth E. GrabnerIn homage to a long ago time when itinerant artists would visit homes to create portraits that would become treasured family possessions, Ms. Grabner will be offering, for an affordable fee, Victorian silhouette portraits.

11:15am - “Development of Caldwell from Fine Resorts and Gentlemen’s Farms to Suburbia”

11:45am - “Caldwell’s Most Endangered Building” (You’ll be surprised!)All of the programs will focus on the Borough’s rich architectural heritage. Residents will be able to look up historic information about their homes and receive guidance about how to do further research. Local historian, Richard Cummings, and architect/historic preservation expert, Frank Gerard Godlewski, will speak.

Self-guided tour: Parsonage Hill; map to be available "in the area"Spanning the years from 1870 to 1920, the neighborhood includes Queen Anne, Carpenter Gothic and Shingle Style architecture and virtually all of the buildings in the neighborhood have retained their architectural integrity.

WEST ESSEX, NJ - All are invited to the many local Christmas Tree and Menorah lightings throughout the West Essex area. Listed below are many ways to ring in the holidays, join in the games, drink hot chocolates and sing some carols.

WEST CALDWELL, NJ - The West Essex First Aid Squad will be hosting a Blood Drive Wednesday, July 29, from 3pm to 8pm, at the squad house. The blood drive will be administered by Community Blood Services and donors will need to supply their social security number on their initial visit or their blood donor ID number. Donors who provide their email address will receive an email in a few days which lists their blood type, glucose and cholesterol results.

"Very little changes after giving blood," a spokesperson commented. "Your fluid volume is back to normal within 24 hours after you donate. Your white cell count returns to normal within 72 hours. An adult of average weight has about 10 to 12 pints of blood so the one taken is hardly missed."

New Jersey Requirements to Donate BloodIn general, eligible donors must be in good health. Donors also must:

be 17 to 75 years of age; 16-year-olds must have a consent form signed by parent or guardian

weigh at least 110 pounds

wait 8 weeks between blood donations

Donation DeferralsDonors will be deferred from giving blood if:

they have had a teeth cleaning, fillings or x-rays within 24 hours

they have had tooth extraction, root canal or oral surgery within 72 hours

they have a sore throat, productive cough or fever within 72 hours

they have traveled to an area considered endemic to Malaria within the past 12 months

a full list of excluded procedures and medications can be found online here

"There is NO risk of contracting any disease through donating blood," the spokesperson added. "Each donor receives their own sterile blood bag and needle, which is used once, and then safely destroyed."

Donation ExclusionsPersons are not permitted to donate blood in New Jersey if they meet any of the following:

donor has visited Europe for a cumulative total of 5 years or more from 1980 to the present

Guidelines Before Donating Blood

eat meals at usual times

drink plenty of fluids, preferably non-caffeinated

Post-Donation Blood Screening TestsDuring the Blood Drive, blood samples, drawn in separate tubes at the time of donation, will undergo a visual screening for clotting or other abnormalities. In addition, each blood donation is subjected to the following tests:

"Our current blood supply is critically low and we need everyone's help on Wednesday," said West Essex First Aid Squad Captain David Black. "Patients need this blood now.We truly hope people step-up to donate blood and be a community hero. None of us know who is going to need it next."

The free event takes place on Tuesday, July 28, from 6:30pm to 8pm, in the Community Room of the library, located at 30 Clinton Road, West Caldwell.Guests are asked to let the Library know that they will be attending by calling 973-226-5441 or signing-up online here.

"Rachel Allyn Band" "Rachel Allyn's original music, exceptional vocals, stage presence, style, and warm personality have captured audiences in the top venues, casinos, and theaters across the northeast. Audiences hear country crossover hits from Miranda Lambert and the Band Perry, folk rock from the Lumineers and American Idol’s Phillip Phillips, and the classic rock standards like Tom Petty and John Mellancamp. "